Between Two Kingdoms

More about the book

A searing, deeply moving memoir of illness and recovery that follows a young woman's journey from diagnosis to remission, culminating in a road trip of healing and self-discovery. After graduating college, Suleika Jaouad moved to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming a war correspondent. However, her life took a drastic turn when she experienced an itch that escalated into exhaustion, leading to a diagnosis of leukemia just before her twenty-third birthday, with only a 35 percent chance of survival. This diagnosis shattered her dreams, resulting in the loss of her job, apartment, and independence. Over the next four years, she fought for her life, chronicling her experience in a column for The New York Times. After enduring three and a half years of treatment, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, she was declared cured. Yet, she faced the daunting challenge of learning how to live again after her fight for survival. Accompanied by her dog, Oscar, she embarked on a 100-day, 15,000-mile road trip across the country to connect with those who had reached out to her during her illness. Through these encounters, she discovered the fluidity between health and illness, highlighting that most of us navigate both realms throughout our lives. This memoir is a profound exploration of survivorship and the journey of beginning anew.